Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson Highlight NFL All-Pro Team

Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson may be rivals for the 2012 NFL MVP, but the Associated Press gave them reasons to relish their regular-season accomplishments.

According to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, the two stars headline the offensive selections on the AP's All-Pro first-team squad.

As many know, Manning and Peterson battled through arduous circumstances to make this day happen.

The Denver Broncos quarterback returned to the field in 2012 after missing all of last season due to recovery from neck surgery. Though many doubted his ability to return to a Pro Bowl-caliber level, Manning exceeded just about all realistic expectations. He led the Broncos to a 13-3 regular-season record, passing for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions.

Manning is joined on the roster by two teammates, offensive tackle Ryan Clady and outside linebacker Von Miller.

As for Peterson, his recovery from a torn ACL may be even more spectacular than Manning's comeback.

Not even expected to take a full workload in Week 1, the Minnesota Vikings running back took the opening snap with his team and did not miss a beat in 2012. He finished the regular season on a legendary tear, falling just shy of Eric Dickerson's all-time NFL rushing record with 2,097 yards on the season.

Peterson was especially great down the stretch, rushing for 861 yards in the month of December alone, as he led the Vikings to an unexpected playoff berth.

Though Manning and Peterson have the best stories of the year, the defensive side of the ball isn't without its top players either.

That first team is highlighted by Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt. The Defensive Player of the Year favorite finished the regular season with 81 total tackles, an NFL-high 20.5 sacks and a jaw-dropping 16 passes defended.

The San Francisco 49ers led the league with six first-team selections, adding an additional four on the second team. The Niners were followed closely by their division rival the Seattle Seahawks with four first-team selections.

Here's a complete look at the 2012 NFL All-Pro first and second teams.